This is the original meeting that led to the establishment of London Health Emergency
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London Health Service Campaign
AFTER
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ??????"'
During the General Election Campaign, the figures for the cuts in Lonion's
Health Service were re-calculated to include the notional extra 2% per annum
that is considered to be needed on top of an allowance for inflation, to take
account of the ageing population and the growing costs of medical technology.
This showed that the cut in cash allocations to London Health Districts this
year is in the region of £6 5millions!
This information was press-released in the last week before June the 9th, and
was also sent to Labour candidates standing in marginals. Whatever effect this had is lost in the crushing defeat inflicted on Labour. The prospects are now
grim for us all - A Tory Government with a massive majority in the House of
Commons ( even if they won with a minority of the total votes cast ), and
Thatcher is already dumping the 'wets'. For those of us active in and around
the Health Service, our job is to prepare for the new attacks that will un-doubtedly come. The best way if doing this is to examine past and present campaigns, in order to try to identify tactics that may be useful in the immediate future, and to encourage resistance in every form, both from Union members and from local community organisations.
Consultation documents are now out on a number of threatened hospitals, with a
string of final decisions due over the next few months. It therefore seems appropriate to ask all campaigns to get together to examine strategy. It is proposed to hold a day-school, that will look at all the ways that past campaigns have tried to resist closures and cuts in the NHS, with an emphasis on practical
possibilities - no rhetoric or hot air ! Although nobody likes to give up a Saturday, this seems the best day to run such a school, as the amount of ground
to cover rules out an evening. A creche will be provided for children, but please let us know if you need to bring your kids, so that the right numbers can be catered for.
THE
WILL BE AT HUFTO HALL, 14 JOCKEYS FIELDS, WC1, OH THE 30th JULY, 10AM TILL 5PM;
Topics to be covered will include: types of industrial action; general campaigning
ideas; using the media; building community support; the role of the medical profession; who are you trying to influence? etc etc.
People with experience in these aspects will be asked to introduce each session, and then there will be work and discussion in small groups. The day is designed particularly for HHS trade unionists and members of community campaigns, but Trades Councils and other interested parties are also welcome to attend. It will not be possible for lunch to be supplied, so those attending should
bring 'sandwiches.; Alternatively a nearby pub does food. Tea and coffee will be available during the day. There is no fee, so please return the slip below as soon as possible. A full programme and timetable will be sent to you in advance.
Please return to Hackney Trades Council Support Unit,
